Bamako , Mali -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mali 's historic cultural center , Timbuktu , lacks electricity , water and phone service , because `` terrorists '' sabotaged the utilities there , a Paris-based spokesman for the ethnic Toureg separatist party MNLA said Thursday .

MNLA spokesman Moussa Ag Assarid said most of the `` terrorists '' fled Timbuktu for the desert after French planes on Tuesday bombed the militants ' headquarters , which was built by former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi . However , Assarid warned , some militants remain in the fabled city .

Assarid 's choice of the word `` terrorists '' highlights the ever-shifting alliances as Mali devolves into a wild frontier . MNLA used to be aligned with Ansar Dine , one of the main Islamist groups fighting to take over Mali . But after MNLA ousted the Malian army from Timbuktu last year , Ansar Dine and al Qaeda drove MNLA away .

The head of the United States ' African Command , Gen. Carter Ham , spoke at Howard University in Washington on Thursday about the situation . He said his ultimate goal is helping a legitimate Malian government based in the capital of Bamako control the whole country .

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`` Territorial integrity of Mali is nonnegotiable . No discussion of a separatist state or something like that . But , it also appears that Mali has asked for , and will need , some help to establish government control in the north , '' Ham said . `` Realistically , we would all like to see the elimination of al Qaeda and others from northern Mali . Realistically , probably the best you can get is containment and disruption , so that al Qaeda is no longer able to control territory as they do today . ''

`` This must be in fact and in perception an African-led endeavor that is done at the request of the Malian government , and I think that is well under way now , '' Ham added .

But recent allegations against Malian troops have some human rights observers questioning whether the Malian army has right on its side , or just might .

Malian soldiers have carried out a number of summary executions as they seek to drive back Islamist militants who have been advancing from the north , a human rights group claimed Thursday .

Mali 's military offensive against the militants has gathered pace in the past two weeks , with backing from France and other international allies .

Refugees tell harrowing stories of life under the Islamist militants who hold northern Mali in an iron grip .

But the French-based International Federation for Human Rights said it was `` very alarmed '' by reports that Malian soldiers are themselves carrying out extrajudicial killings and abuses as they counterstrike .

FIDH claims the victims of these abuses have been anyone `` accused of complicity with the jihadists or infiltrated elements , persons in possession of weapons , people who have no proof of their identity during military patrols or simply people targeted because of their belonging to certain ethnic groups . ''

The group said it had confirmed that Malian forces have carried out numerous executions in the key conflict area between the north and south , particularly in the towns of Sevare , Mopti and Niono .

`` In Sevare , at least 11 individuals were executed in the military camp , near the bus station and near the hospital , '' the FIDH said . Reliable information indicates `` close to 20 other executions in the same area where bodies are said to have been buried very hastily , in particular in the wells . In the Niono region , Malian soldiers killed two Malians of Tuareg origin . ''

The group says it has also been told of other summary executions in central Mali , and documents the pillaging of Tuareg homes by government soldiers .

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A Mali military spokesman declined to comment on the record about the rights group 's allegations .

The FIDH called for the immediate establishment of an independent investigation commission `` to assess the scope of these abuses and sanction the perpetrators . ''

Although Malian and French politicians and military officials have repeatedly called for respect of international humanitarian law and human rights , the FIDH says it is concerned by the lack of scrutiny of these alleged violations .

`` This series of grave abuses confirms the concerns that we have been expressing for several weeks , '' said the group 's president , Souhayr Belhassent .

`` These acts of revenge together with the extreme tensions that exists between the communities constitute an explosive cocktail leading us to fear that the worst could happen , especially in the context of the reconquering the North . ''

MNLA rebels who returned to Mali well-armed from fighting for the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi staged a military coup last year against the Malian government .

Islamic extremists capitalized on the chaos , carving out a large haven in Mali 's north and imposing a strict interpretation of Sharia law . The Islamists banned music , smoking , drinking and watching sports on television . They also destroyed historic tombs and shrines .

Fellow rights group Amnesty International also has voiced concern over the actions of Mali 's army .

`` Particularly troubling is that among the Malian forces -- as well as pro-government militia -- are individuals who enjoy impunity for egregious human rights violations , '' wrote Scott Edwards , managing director of Crisis Prevention and Response at Amnesty International USA last week .

Among other abuses , an Amnesty report last year accused the Malian army of `` indiscriminately '' bombing the civilian population in response to the rebellion by armed Tuareg groups .

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Corinne Dufka , who heads Human Rights Watch in West Africa , told CNN on Thursday that education could help stem the `` worrying number of reprisal killings . ''

'' -LSB- It -RSB- should be a wake-up call not only to the Malian army to nip this problem in the bud and investigate and hold those responsible , but also to Mali 's international partners -- the French , the European Union , the African forces who are coming in -- to acknowledge the weaknesses and problems within the Malian security forces , and then , to properly accompany them , to urgently train them in international humanitarian law and to mentor them so there are no further abuses in the future , '' Dufka said .

A CNN crew in Mali has heard anecdotal reports of abuses . It has encountered widespread hatred of the Tuareg in Mali , with many in the population blaming them for bringing the current conflict into Mali .

The CNN crew has heard reports that the houses and possessions of Tuareg families have been destroyed by either citizens or Mali 's military .

Many Tuareg are in hiding or keeping a low profile for fear of retribution from the public and military . Tuareg in refugee camps have repeatedly said they had to flee Mali because of violence against them .

France 's involvement in Mali began the day after militants said January 10 that they had seized the city of Konna , east of Diabaly in central Mali , and were poised to advance south toward Bamako .

Those events stoked fear among global security experts that Mali could become a new hub for terrorism .

The FIDH is a multinational human rights body made up of 164 groups across the world , with delegations at the United Nations in Geneva , the European Union in Brussels and the International Criminal Court in The Hague .

CNN 's Ingrid Formanek reported from Mali and Joseph Netto from Atlanta , Barbara Starr reported from Washington , and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London . Mark Morgenstein updated in Atlanta .

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NEW : Tuareg separatist group blame `` terrorists '' for Timbuktu 's problems

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A French human rights group says it has confirmed a number of executions by Malian forces

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Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also voiced concern

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France and others are backing a Malian offensive against Islamist and Tuareg militants